University Academic Council
The University Academic Council (UAC) is at the core of academic governance for the AIU System. It is responsible for reviewing and approving substantive changes to academic programs, curriculum, and policies that support the System’s mission. The UAC voting membership consists of appointed faculty from all member institutions, and stakeholders from across the System serve as ex-officio participants. The UAC is chaired by the Provost and meetings are facilitated by the UAC Secretary.
Library & Learning Services
This department offers extensive online research collections of journal articles and electronic books, research and citation support, and co-curricular learning resources to AIU System students, staff, and faculty. This support is offered through a number of synchronous and asynchronous service points. The exact methods and services provided vary slightly between the system member institutions but all include some form of research assistance, APA citation support, and information literacy instruction. In addition to these broad services, Trident and California Southern University provide interlibrary loan services for graduate students. AIU and Trident offer a 24/7 online reference chat service as well.
Each member institution library provides:
- Subject databases to provide research support for the AIUS academic programs
- Summon discovery service where users can perform broad searches of the library's collections at one time
- Live support for research, APA, and using the library websites
- Guides and tutorials on formatting papers according to APA citation and formatting rules
- Information literacy instruction through asynchronous tutorials and/or live workshops
Learning Services provides third-party tutoring services and provides asynchronous co-curricular support. The form of this support varies by member institution but often includes asynchronous tutorials and live support.
Curriculum & Assessment
This department supports the development of curriculum and assessment for the AIUS by working closely with the member institutions to offer support and assistance for program development and course revisions. The department works with the deans and faculty to set the rules and methods for developing curriculum based on innovative pedagogical practices, and is responsible for ensuring consistency in the methodology, standards, and framework for curriculum development across all schools and colleges within the system. It is also responsible for maintaining consistent standards for direct measures of student learning, provides guidance on effective and psychometrically sound assessment measures and instruments.
Faculty Training & Development
This department is committed to learner success and satisfaction and dedicated to academic excellence. Helping faculty to engage in ongoing learning and professional development is critical for student success. Our goal is to have faculty provide quality curriculum to learners and utilize teaching methods that inspire students to persevere and achieve their academic goals. To accomplish this, we provide monthly professional development and training opportunities that inspire excellence and innovation in teaching, learning and scholarship. Our faculty development professionals work to develop new teaching methods, improve research skills, and increase knowledge of new technologies. Such activities include technology training sessions, academic workshops, book clubs, conferences, webinars, and faculty mentoring.
Academic Operations
This department provides support to the System’s Academic Leadership team for the management of faculty, maintenance of faculty records, and provides oversight over faculty credential management. It is also responsible for managing faculty letters of appointment.
Institutional Effectiveness (IE)
This department oversees continuous-improvement initiatives for the System. Continuous improvement ensures that System departments and programs routinely examine the quality of their operations and gauge constituent satisfaction. These efforts allow the System to identify opportunities for modifications and enhancements designed to result in a better student experience.
The IE team operates a reporting protocol in which progress toward objectives may be tracked and measured. Additional functionalities of the continuous-improvement process include student surveys (indirect assessment), assessment of student learning in University courses (direct assessment), and routine review of degree programs to ensure a current and relevant curriculum. Some continuous-improvement work is managed directly by the IE team; others involve the IE team in a consultancy or supportive role. IE may also be described as a System-wide culture of systematic self-reflection, evidence-based decision making, and continuous improvement.
Policy & Program Management
This department provides oversight of all System and institutional academic policies and procedures, adherence to internal academic and System governance processes including review and approval of new programs and changes to existing programs, management of the University Catalog for each member institution, and Registrar services. Registrar services includes oversight to the awarding of academic credentials, credits, and degrees; all decisions and evaluations regarding student academic progress and performance and the completeness and integrity of student records.